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All-Star Game statues up for auction through Dec. 20

All-Star Game statues up for auction through Dec. 20

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2011 All-Star Game statue

By Mark Newman
/
MLB.com |

Statues are traditional and literal fixtures around Major League Baseball, with famous likenesses ranging from Stan Musial outside Busch Stadium to Hank Aaron at Turner Field to Willie Mays at AT&T Park to the one for Cal Ripken Jr. unveiled three months ago at Camden Yards.

There are other statues, however, that are still in need of a home. We're talking about those massive All-Star Game statues that have become a tradition every summer, representing the theme of that year's host city. Bidding is under way through 10 p.m. ET on Dec. 20 for the chance to own one of the many made available by Major League Baseball, each one capable of making a powerful statement

Bidding starts at $500 on each.

The Autographed All-Star Game Crown statue is seemingly the biggest prize on this block, and one of four that was positioned around Kansas City last July. It was signed by Hall of Famer George Brett and members of the American and National League rosters last July as they boarded rides to the Midsummer Classic at the start of the Red Carpet Show presented by Chevrolet. Derek Jeter, Chipper Jones, Buster Posey, Miguel Cabrera, Justin Verlander and David Wright are among those who signed it.

Red Sox Nation has an item available that comes with its own great war story. For the 2010 All-Star Week in Anaheim, 36 Mickey Mouse statues, each standing 7 1/2 feet tall and representing each team as well as host city and leagues, were placed around the area and were the objects of a treasure hunt on MLB.com. The Red Sox Mickey was positioned in front of the Discovery Science Museum in Santa Ana, Calif., where it was vandalized by someone. It was repaired by Major League Baseball after that, and now it is a great piece of memorabilia for someone, representing a year when six Red Sox players were selected: Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, David Ortiz, Adrian Beltre, Dustin Pedroia and Victor Martinez.

Six All-Star Cactus statues are listed, recalling those sweltering summer days when they were positioned around the Valley of the Sun in Arizona for the 2011 Midsummer Classic. Here's a perfect chance for a Phoenix-area establishment to step up and decorate with local pride, maybe to even showcase some D-backs history. And there's one that featured all 30 club logos, so that could to anyone anywhere.

Mets fans, you know that 975-pound piggy bank that appeared at Citi Field last season? It is listed in this auction, and so is the one that became a familiar presence last summer at Fenway Park.